Perfect fitting high-back booster seat for GT

[WaveyDavey]

There's a few older threads on here about finding high-back booster seats (the new legal requirement for kids below a certain height) that fit in the rear of the GranTurismo. I thought I'd post my findings for all those that use their Maseratis as practical family wagons...

Few seats fit very well in the back, mainly as a result of the deeply bucket'd base. Previously I've been resorting to a cushion to fill the void, but I wanted something more permanent, and which made use of the Isofix fittings. So after 45 mins of hilarious Carry-On esque grunting and jiggling in the back with a very helpful young Mothercare seat-fitting girl, I found that their own Palma seat fits perfectly. The profile of the base and the angle of the back couldn't fit any better. It even has Isofix.

20180913_115512

20180913_115522

It's even quite smart to look at, and apparently very comfy. Feels like decent quality, too. Shame it's not a few shades darker to match my interior trim, but I'm being picky now.

The only slight snag is that the isofix release mechanism is very hard to see or reach once installed, making removal a bit of a faff (certainly if you have big oaf hands like me). But that's Future Dave's problem...

Anyway, hope this is helpful to some of you.

 

[jmoon80]

That's really helpful, thanks for posting!

I see you've got the backrest reasonably low so it sits below the headrest on the actual car seat. If you put it higher, does it still sit OK, or is the back of the child seat pushed forward?

I have a maxi cosi rodifix which fits on the GT seat width-wise but the back profile/headrest isn't perfect, so looking at other options.

Thanks

James

 

[hunta]

I don't suppose you know how the GT seat profile compares to that of a GS? Wondering whether this seat may be a candidate.

 

[WaveyDavey]

I just checked: it fits perfectly, even with the backrest set to max height:

20180913_131148

I moved the GT headrest up fully and the booster seat back is hard up against the seat.

 

[WaveyDavey]

I don't suppose you know how the GT seat profile compares to that of a GS? Wondering whether this seat may be a candidate.

No idea, I'm afraid.

 

[jmoon80]

I just checked: it fits perfectly, even with the backrest set to max height:

20180913_131148

I moved the GT headrest up fully and the booster seat back is hard up against the seat.

Ah, sorry, I meant with the headrest on the child seat higher (for taller child), as the car headrest protrudes forward relative to the backrest.

You've made me think though, I'm not sure if my car headrests adjust (face-lift car). I've only had it a week! I'd assumed they didn't, but if they do, that might help solve my problem...

 

[WaveyDavey]

Ah, sorry, I meant with the headrest on the child seat higher (for taller child), as the car headrest protrudes forward relative to the backrest.

You've made me think though, I'm not sure if my car headrests adjust (face-lift car). I've only had it a week! I'd assumed they didn't, but if they do, that might help solve my problem...

Sorry, it's me who wasn't being clear - the kid's seat backrest is set to max height in that photo (as well as the car headrest). With the car headrest lowered it does lift the back away from the seat a little (at least with my car, but if the facelift GT's have a different (fixed) headrest, I couldn't be sure).

 

[rogerxp]

Useful info. What height to the little buggers need to be in one of these seats until before a simple booster is acceptable (I know I should probably know the answer!).

 

[jmoon80]

Sorry, it's me who wasn't being clear - the kid's seat backrest is set to max height in that photo (as well as the car headrest). With the car headrest lowered it does lift the back away from the seat a little (at least with my car, but if the facelift GT's have a different (fixed) headrest, I couldn't be sure).

Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying! I'll have a play with the headrests this evening and see if they move... If they do, I don't need new child seats anyway, and if they don't, I'm probably no better off with the other seats...hey ho...

 

[jmoon80]

Useful info. What height to the little buggers need to be in one of these seats until before a simple booster is acceptable (I know I should probably know the answer!).

I think it's 135cm tall or 12 years old, whichever comes first. You can use a simple booster instead, if you have one, but you can't buy one since the new law came in in 2017 (from memory). There are compromises such as boosters (or even flat pads) that have a strap through which to feed the seat belt to lower it to the correct height (rather than raising the child up), but to be honest I'm not 100% sure on how these fit under the law - I think they are ok... Please don't just take me word on any of this!

The other question of course, is whether you want the extra side impact protection of the high back seats, regardless of legality... That's definitely one for Mumsnet not SM! Personally, I do like the extra padding, but I also take the kids out in my old mini, and that with a high back booster is considerably less safe than a GTS with a simple booster, so I'm not really in a position to be holier-than-thou on the subject!

 

[rogerxp]

Thanks. Think my 6 year old is about 125cm tall so technically under that limit (that was the figure I had in mind too) but he's just in a booster. Watching his big Sister move out of her high backed seat onto a booster and now nothing at all generally increases the pressure to also advance him a bit sooner. To be fair though, in reference to the additional side protection, both cars have had airbags galore, you're more likely to suffocate in a crash rather than actually hurt yourself. Not sure whether such modern things like airbags have caught on with Maserati though but thankfully it feels like it's been created from granite so reckon he'll be OK. The other mantra to follow is to avoid crashing